Bullet Trap

I have a 6 acre hill country lot on a hill and it's legal to shoot, but no natural backstop. So I made one. Set out to 25 yds most of my shooting will be handgun and 22 rifle.

Here are some pics of my bullet trap and thought I'd share them with anyone who might have a similar situation. It starts as an 8' x 2' galvanized stock tank. Cut in half then bolted together to make a rain proof container (to keep the sand dry) and a slide-in 4x8 sheet of asphalt board to staple targets to. The 3' x 4' x 1/4" steel plate is back-up for bullets that might actually go through the sand (unlikely).

Sorry did not mean to hyjack your post. Thought your trap was really really good and simple to make. I might just use your idea to do some more traps. Notice my use of freezer paper and paint as target. Don't even have to buy store targets.
It is great to walk out the back door and shoot isn't it. Much cheaper than range and no gas to get there.

I have 2 acres and can shoot here in the country. Pic is of my bullet trap as first made. It has two layers of landscape timbers covered with plywood. The bottom layer of timbers were deteriorating pretty bad and had a few rounds get through. To make it better I enclosed sides and put layer of 4x6 white oak on back of front section. Then I filled that boxed area with sand. So sand is about foot or so deep. Now bullets stay in trap. I periodically remove the bullets from the sand then just repile the sand back up. I bought 1/2 yard sand from local dirt center and used maybe 1/2 of that.
I use rolls of freezer paper on the top curtain rod and pull down and clothes pin to bungie cord at bottom. I then spray paint a bulls eye on the paper. As needed I just pull more paper down and paint another eye.
All really need is build a 8 ft tall box maybe 4x4 and use 2x6 for flooring to support sand as in pic. Also using rubber truck mud flap on sides and front behind the target will help keep sand in place. I had checked using sand on utube and 9mm or .45 would barely get to back side of 6 inches of sand. Google and check it out.
I also built a back stop 4X6 white oak with hanging wood blocks on pvc in front for shooting .22. I do not use this for anything over a .22 as larger caliber bullets will go through the oak back stop.

My son's coming down for Formula 1 this weekend and we're hoping to find some spare time to test this thing. I'm planning to first shoot 22 rifle and check penetration. If all looks good then on up to 265gr 45 win mag out of a 14" Contender. That should move some sand. My hopes are that the sand will splash up and back and then flow back down to fill the void. If the sand is dry and loose it should be self-maintaining. Also, there might be a better choice than the asphalt board. There are new types of insulation board (like the blue poly foam) but I don't know if staples will hold in it. We'll have to experiment.

Your trap with that much sand and metal plate backing will be the cats meow for your safe target shooting. I doubt the backing plate will even get hit with that much sand in front of it. I don't have that much sand and bullets don't make it through to oak back up.You did a super job making this trap. Kudos Try the freezer paper roll for target and you have super inexpensive target shooting.

Your trap with that much sand and metal plate backing will be the cats meow for your safe target shooting. I doubt the backing plate will even get hit with that much sand in front of it. I don't have that much sand and bullets don't make it through to oak back up.You did a super job making this trap. Kudos Try the freezer paper roll for target and you have super inexpensive target shooting.

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I'm sure the sand will stop most bullets, but just in case someone shoots a little high it's there as a back-up. Also, that is nearly 5000 lbs of sand so having to shovel it back out is not the kind of exercize my lower back needs. As is, this makes for a 4' x 4' square in which to place targets or about 2' x 6' across the bottom. The painted reference marks (in the first pic) are 48" apart and line up with the steel plate.